I'll let the big boys (and girls) at The Golf Channel, Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and ESPN dissect the details of the Master's competition itself. But I wanted to briefly touch on the coverage aspect of the 2008 Master's, which was impressive to say the least.On DirecTV: 3 different channels showing live coverage (main broadcast, Amen Corner, and the 14th and 15th holes), and a 4th showing split screen for the other 3 and highlights.
On the internet: live streaming video with up to 3 different feeds and interactive menus, hole descriptions, flyovers, statistics, and walk-throughs. And to top it all off, limited commercial interruptions.
Taking a cue from its incredibly successful venture into online broadcasting a few years ago with the NCAA basketball tournament, CBS streamed complete coverage of Amen Corner and holes 14 and 15 on the internet. For those with DirecTV, the bonus coverage was also available on television in both standard and high definition broadcasts. The internet feeds were stable and the coverage was outstanding. Viewers could switch back an forth between the feeds with a click of the mouse, or the press of a remote button.
Instead of just a couple of hours of coverage a day that shows only the players' (and by "players", of course I mean Tiger Woods) tee shots and putts, we got to see as many hours and as many different shots as our eyes could take. And the broadcast was even tolerable to watch live because of the limitation on commercials. It was like the difference between reading a novel versus reading the Cliff's Notes version of the novel - Cliff's Notes may be quicker, easier, and brainless, but reading and digesting the depth and detail of the novel itself is infinitely more satisfying.
On top of the video coverage itself, the Master's website was first rate. You could seemlessly switch between video feeds and call up the leaderboard and player statistics with a single click.
The leaderboard window allowed viewers to pinpoint the location of players on the course, and to view details about each hole.
On top of the video coverage itself, the Master's website was first rate. You could seemlessly switch between video feeds and call up the leaderboard and player statistics with a single click.
The leaderboard window allowed viewers to pinpoint the location of players on the course, and to view details about each hole.
For even more detail, viewers could click their way to diagrams, video flyovers, and interactive walking tours of each hole.
The coverage of the 2008 Master's reminded me why televised coverage of golf can be not simply worth watching, but compelling.
And while I realize that it's not practical to cover every golf tournament the way the Master's is covered, I do think that the 4 majors, the Ryder Cup, and the U.S. Men's and Women's Amateur deserve similar treatment. But since I know that won't happen, at least not this year, I would settle for comprehensive "Master's type" coverage for the Ryder Cup this year. Please?
The coverage of the 2008 Master's reminded me why televised coverage of golf can be not simply worth watching, but compelling.
And while I realize that it's not practical to cover every golf tournament the way the Master's is covered, I do think that the 4 majors, the Ryder Cup, and the U.S. Men's and Women's Amateur deserve similar treatment. But since I know that won't happen, at least not this year, I would settle for comprehensive "Master's type" coverage for the Ryder Cup this year. Please?
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